Surname Songer - Meaning and Origin
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Songer: What does the surname Songer mean?
The last name Songer is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Old German word, sungar, meaning "warrior". This surname was most likely originally used as a nickname for someone who was courageous or fought bravely in battle. It could also have been given to someone who had a courteous manner or who showed strength of character in difficult situations.
The spelling of this surname has varied over the years, with some variations including Songer, Sanger, and Sauner. It is most prevalent in the United States, where it is the 20,626th most common surname, with the highest concentrations being located in Missouri, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
The earliest records of this surname date back to the sixteenth century when it is found in a variety of records in Germany. For example, one record mentions Michael Songer, who was present in Viernbach, Germany in the year 1560. Similarly, Martin Songer is recorded in Eppingen, Germany in 1576.
Today, Songer is still a common surname around the world, with people bearing this name residing in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, and other parts of Europe. It is a surname that carries a sense of strength and courage, and the people who bear it have a proud history to look back on.
Order DNA origin analysisSonger: Where does the name Songer come from?
The last name Songer is predominantly found in North America. It was first used by immigrants from Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the United States, Songer is most often concentrated in the Ohio river valley states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, although it can also be found in smaller numbers in other states. It is less common in Canada, but can still be found in eastern and southwestern provinces.
The name is not particularly rare, but it is not overly common either. According to the US Census in 2018, 6553 individuals have the Songer last name, making it quite uncommon compared to more popular names such as Smith, Johnson, and Brown.
The origin of the name Songer is not clear. It could have originated from the Middle High German verb "songen" which means to sing a song or it could have been derived from the Old High German word "sungo" which was a nickname for a singer.
Regardless of its origin, the last name Songer is not widespread, but it remains a prominent part of North American history.
Variations of the surname Songer
The surname Songer is of English origin and is an occupational name derived from the Old English words sunu which means son and ger which translates to spear. The first recorded spelling of the surname Songer was in 1274 when Hugh Sanger was noted in the Assize Rolls of Sussex. Today, Songer is still mainly found in England and is a common variant throughout the English speaking world. Other forms of the surname Songer that are seen today include Sonnger, Sanger, Songar, Sungar, Songey, Sounger, Soneger, Sonjer, Sonester, Songor, Sontar, Saner, and Seynger.
Songer is often found spelled slightly differently in different areas, as well as the appearance of different surnames derived from the same root. Nearly all of these surnames are related to the same Middle English root, and the difference in spellings show variation in language and how the roots of the surname were pronounced at the time. Variations within the surname practices of the time could include misspellings and different dialects, both of which caused some surnames to evolve differently.
Many of the varieties of the Songer surname also exist in other English-speaking countries, though the spelling of the surname may be slightly different. In Scotland and Ireland, Sanger is the main form of the surname, and in the United States it is typically spelled as Sonnger or Sonester.
In modern times, the Songer surname remains common and is shared by many people throughout the English-speaking world. It is a testament to the resilience of language and how surnames constantly evolve over time, while still being related to one another no matter the spelling.
Famous people with the name Songer
- Bryan Songer: is an American professional downhill mountain bike racer who won the Downhill National Championship in 2020.
- William Songer: is an American alternative country musician from the state of West Virginia.
- Eric D. Songer: is a Senior VP & Chief Information Security Officer at Prudential Financial.
- Alice Songer: was an American soprano opera singer, best known for her performances in European opera houses from the 1940s to the 1960s.
- Erin Songer: is an award-winning American fiction author and freelance writer.
- Brett Songer: is an American professional boxer who held the IBO middleweight championship twice.
- Terry Songer: is an American baseball coach and currently the head baseball coach at the University of Oregon.
- Miles Songer: is an American conservation scientist who works as a senior research scientist for The Nature Conservancy.
- Kim Songer: is an American neurologist and author of Phoenix Rising: One Man's Victory over the Darkness of PTSD.
- Alexis Songer: is an American soccer player currently playing for Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League.